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The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John

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The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament • 2. Reihe Herausgeber/Editor Jörg Frey Mitherausgeber / Associate Editors Friedrich Avemarie • Judith Gundry-Volf Martin Hengel • Otfried Hofius • Hans-Josef Klauck 167 ARTI BUS Loren L. Johns The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John An Investigation into Its Origins and Rhetorical Force Mohr Siebeck LOREN L. JOHNS, bom 1955; 1977-85 Pastor; 1985-88 Theology Book Editor; 1993-2000 Assistant and Associate Professor of Religion, Bluffton College, Ohio; 1998 Ph.D.; Currently Academic Dean and Associate Professor of New Testament, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana. ISBN3-16-148164-X ISSN 0340-9570 (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2. Reihe) Die Deutsche Bibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliographie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the Internet at http://dnb.ddb.de. © 2003 by J. C. B. Möhr (Paul Siebeck), P.O. Box 2040, D-72010 Tubingen. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that permitted by copyright law) without the publisher's written permission. This applies particularly to reproductions, translations, microfilms and storage and processing in electronic systems. The book was printed by Druckpartner Rübelmann GmbH in Hemsbach on non-aging paper and bound by Buchbinderei Schaumann in Darmstadt. Printed in Germany. To Rachel, with love and gratitude Preface This book represents a slightly revised version of my doctoral dissertation in New Testament Studies, which I completed at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey, under the title, The Origins and Rhetorical Force of the Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John. Having come to this point in my journey with this research project, I am quite aware of the ways in which I have benefited from the communities of which I have been a part and from individuals who have read and critiqued what I have written here. This project would not have been possible without the benefits I have reaped from the work of many other people. Three people whose work in the Apocalypse of John were formative for me early on were Howard Charles, Ted Grimsrud, and William Klassen. I took an undergraduate course in the Apocalypse of John with Dr. Charles at Goshen College. He taught me to be honest with the text within the confines of the subjectivity with which we all must work—to work inductively without forcing preconceived ideas on the text or predetermining a hermeneutical outcome. His deliberate and thoughtful approach also lessened my fear of this book. Later, as theology book editor for Herald Press, I edited Ted Grimsrud's book, Triumph of the Lamb (1987), a helpful study guide intended for laypersons and church groups. His study excited me about this book and convinced me that there was potential in reading the Apocalypse ethically. Finally, I found several conversations with William Klassen to be helpful as I began to work with this project. Dr. Klassen provided key bibliographical help and pointed me in helpful directions. The late Dr. J. Christiaan Beker pressed me early in this project to pay attention to the overall structure and design of this dissertation in order to maintain a healthy sense of the parts within the whole and the flow of the argument. I hope the results meet his high standards in this regard. My family has been helpful and supportive in various ways. My father, Galen Johns, graciously read part or all of several drafts of this dissertation, catching errors, providing helpful feedback, and asking for clarification. Thank you. My wife Rachel and my daughters, Kendra and Jessica, have been patiently supportive all along the way. viii Preface My small group at West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship was gracious enough to participate enthusiastically in an extended study I led in the late 1980s on the relevance of the Apocalypse for life in modern Philadelphia. Bluffion College supported my research along the way and helped me to per- severe as I completed my dissertation while teaching there. I would especially like to thank my colleague, Dr. J. Denny Weaver, who has been a good con- versation partner and whose own work on the Apocalypse has emphasized the theological significance of a preterist reading of the Apocalypse—especially for a Christus Victor Christology. I would like to thank Princeton Theological Seminary for making this research project possible. Its heritage of serious theological inquiry informed by careful historical-critical methods is as critically valuable to Christ's church today as it has ever been. I would like to thank Dr. Beverly Gaventa, whose careful and thoughtful reading of this dissertation went beyond the call of duty and helped me to avoid some misperceptions. I would especially like to thank my dissertation committee for the careful reading and helpful suggestions they have given me along the way: Dr. Brian K. Blount, Dr. Ulrich Mauser, and my adviser, Dr. James H. Charlesworth. Each of them read carefully and offered me valuable counsel. I am grateful to Dr. Charlesworth for his guidance of this project. His im- portant essay, "The Apocalypse of John: Its Theology and Impact on Subse- quent Apocalypses," was seminal in my own early reflection on the rhetorical significance of the Lamb Christology and the nature of the redefinitions of power it entailed. I have benefited greatly from his knowledge of the history and literature of Second Temple Judaism. On the more personal level, I found Dr. Charlesworth always to be available, eager and willing to discuss my research and to encourage me along the way. Thank you. Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Jörg Frey of the Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät, University of Munich, who expressed interest in my work and recommended its publication in the WUNT 2 series. In light of the valuable help I received from these communities and indi- viduals, I take responsibility for whatever flaws remain in this study. Despite the long labor I endured in giving birth to this work, I was encouraged by the vision of the end and a conviction that the study was both worthwhile and valid in its findings. May the reader conclude in agreement ... or at least be blessed along the way (cf. Rev 1:3). Vicit agnus noster. Elkhart, Indiana, July 2003 Loren L. Johns Table of Contents Preface vii Chapter I. Introduction 1 1.1 Introductory Observations 1 1.2 "Apocalypse" in Popular Discourse 11 1.3 Methodology and Reading Strategies 14 1.4 Problems Central to this Dissertation 19 1.5 Procedure and Outline 21 Chapter II. What is TO apviov? 22 2.1 Lamb Lexicography and Statistics 22 2.2 Questions about Translation 22 2.3 The Semantic Domain of "Lamb" in the New Testament 25 2.4 "Lamb" in the Hebrew Bible and Septuagint 28 2.5 The Lamb Domain in Josephus and Philo 32 2.5.1 In Josephus 32 2.5.2 In Philo 35 2.5.3 The Josephus and Philo Evidence Interpreted 36 2.6 apviov as a Cryptogram 38 2.7 Conclusion 38 Chapter III. Lambs in the Ancient Near East and the Graeco-Roman Environment 40 3.1 Prehistoric Animal Mythologies 42 3.2 Egyptian Religion 43 3.2.1 Ram Deities 45 3.2.2 The Lamb to Bocchoris 47 3.3 Aesopic Fable Traditions 52 3.4 Greek and Roman Mythology and Religion 55 x Table of Contents 3.4.1 Lions and Lambs in Homer's Epics 56 3.4.2 Oracular Deities Associated with the Ram 57 3.4.3 The Golden Fleece 60 3.4.4 Sacrifice Traditions 62 3.4.5 Rams and Lambs in Greek Art 65 3.4.6 Roman Religion and the Magna Mater 66 3.4.7 Aries: Lamb of the Zodiac 68 3.5 Summary and Conclusion 75 Chapter IV. Lambs in Early Judaism 76 4.1 Introduction 76 4.2 The Literature Examined 80 4.2.1 Testament of Joseph 19:8 80 4.2.2 Testament of Benjamin 3:8 87 4.2.3 1 Enoch 89-90 88 4.2.4 Psalms of Solomon 8 97 4.3 Lambs in Rabbinic Literature 98 4.3.1 Moses as Lamb 101 4.3.2 David as Lamb 104 4.4 Conclusion 106 Chapter V. Lamb Symbolism in the Old Testament and the Apocalypse ... 108 5.1 The Lamb and the Meaning of Symbols 108 5.2 Method in Symbol Analysis 109 5.3 The Social-Historical Setting of the Apocalypse 120 5.4 Potential Antecedents in the Old Testament 127 5.4.1 The Lambs of the Sacrificial System 128 5.4.2 The Paschal Lamb of Exodus 130 5.4.3 The Suffering Servant Song of Isaiah 53:7 133 5.4.4 Daniel's Vision of a Ram and a Goat (Dan. 8) 135 5.4.5 The Aqedah (Gen. 22) 137 5.4.6 The Lambs of Micah 5:6 [LXX] 140 5.4.7 The Lambs of Eschatological Peace 143 5.4.8 The Vulnerable Lamb of the LXX 145 Chapter VI. The Rhetorical Force of the Lamb Christology in the Apocalypse 150 6.1 The Christology of the Apocalypse in Political Context 151 Table of Contents xi 6.2 The Rhetoric of the Apocalypse 155 6.3 The Central Scene in Revelation 5 158 6.3.1 The Lion 164 6.3.2 The Root 167 6.3.3 The Lamb 168 6.3.4 The Praise 168 6.4 Christology and Ethics in the Apocalypse 171 6.4.1 "Witness" in the Apocalypse 172 6.4.2 "Triumph" in the Apocalypse 175 6.4.3 The Prophetic Calls to Discernment 180 6.4.4 The Lamb as Divine Warrior 181 6.4.5 But is the Vision Really Ethical? 185 6.5 Conclusion 202 Appendix I.
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